Heading into the bye week after a loss to Georgia, the meaning of this upcoming Saturday's matchup would've felt like a dream for South Carolina fans.
It seems like years ago that the Gamecocks were 2-4, fresh off giving up over 300 rushing yards to the Bulldogs at home in a loss that figured to bury them toward the bottom of the SEC East standings. Now, winner of three-straight games, South Carolina heads to Gainesville to fight for bowl eligibility. Not only that, but a win will keep the Gamecocks alive in the division title race — something no one expected just three weeks ago.
South Carolina's road to Atlanta must start in The Swamp, where the Gamecocks defeated the Florida Gators in a thriller in 2014. This year the Gators come into the matchup banged up, as they'll certainly be playing without six key players, including quarterback Luke Del Rio, who also didn't play in Florida's loss to Tennessee. A few other players are questionable for the game as well, including starting wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland.
Despite the injuries, South Carolina still has just a 14.6 percent chance of winning based on ESPN's Football Power Index. The Gamecocks have a unique advantage, though, as head coach Will Muschamp and his staff are very familiar with Florida's personnel.
"You realize there's some strengths and weaknesses they may have within their game," Muschamp said Tuesday.
Offensive coordinator Kurt Roper and defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson were on the opposite sideline with Muschamp in 2014 as well, and among the three of them, they recruited a significant number of the Gators on the current roster.
Regardless, Muschamp emphasizes that the players have to win the game on the field. In what's supposed to be a defensive battle, the most intriguing matchup may be at quarterback.
Freshman Jake Bentley will make his fourth career start, his first on the road, against an incredibly talented secondary featuring Teez Tabor, Quincy Wilson and Marcus Maye, all of whom are projected to be early-round picks in the NFL Draft.
Florida will turn to Purdue transfer Austin Appleby, who started in the Gators' loss to Tennessee. Appleby didn't earn the start until Wednesday, edging out true freshmen Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask. Appleby will face a South Carolina secondary that allows fewer than 200 yards per game, ranking third in the conference.
With struggling offenses and strong defenses, this is expected to be a low-scoring affair. The over-under for the contest is listed at 37.5, tied for the lowest of the season. South Carolina ranks last in the SEC in scoring offense, while the Gators sit at No. 10. On the other side, Florida ranks fifth nationally, allowing just 14.1 points per game, 16 spots ahead of the Gamecocks.
The stakes are high for both teams, as South Carolina can clinch bowl eligibility with a win, and both teams need a win and help to claim the division crown. With all the scenarios that could put the Gamecocks into a tie atop the division, Muschamp has made it clear to his players that the game at hand should be their only focus.
"The only thing we can control is South Carolina and our preparation for this game," Muschamp said. "And the only way any of that stuff stays alive, is we need to win the game."